Lawyer: Taconic crash driver to be exhumed

(AP) - The body of a woman who killed herselfand seven other people by driving a minivan the wrong way on aparkway and crashing into an SUV will be exhumed for testing in anattempt to counter findings

News 12 Staff

May 27, 2014, 9:41 PM

Updated 3,620 days ago

Share:

Lawyer: Taconic crash driver to be exhumed
(AP) - The body of a woman who killed herselfand seven other people by driving a minivan the wrong way on aparkway and crashing into an SUV will be exhumed for testing in anattempt to counter findings that she was drunk, a family lawyersaid Tuesday.
Attorney Dominic Barbara said Tuesday night on CNN's "LarryKing Live" that Diane Schuler could have suffered a minor strokebrought on by an abscess in her mouth.
The July 26 crash on the Taconic State Parkway, just north ofNew York City, killed Schuler, her daughter and three young niecesin the minivan and three men in the SUV. Toxicology tests found the36-year-old woman had been drinking heavily and smoking marijuana.
But her husband, Daniel Schuler, denied that possibility andhired Barbara and a private investigator. He said Tuesday he wantsrelatives of the other victims to know that "A drunk driver didnot do this to your family."
"I think she had a stroke," he said. "Something to do withher teeth."
Barbara said the just-released autopsy report found no evidenceof chronic alcoholism in Diane Schuler's liver, pancreas, stomachor esophagus.
He had previously suggested that diabetes or a lump on her legcould have caused her crash, and he said Tuesday it was possiblethat when her body was charred in the crash the sugar in her bloodturned to alcohol.
During the show, statements were read from representatives ofthe family of Daniel Longo, one of the men killed in the SUV. Onesaid Daniel Schuler's refusal to accept that his wife was drunk is"appalling, offensive and hurtful."
Schuler, of West Babylon, said his 5-year-old son, Bryan, theonly survivor from the minivan, had broken arms and a broken legand would make a full recovery. The boy is in a children's hospitalfor rehabilitation.Photo courtesy of NewsdayClick NEXT for more videos.


More from News 12
1:49
Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

0:56
Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

2:30
Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:22
Police: 29-year-old man dies after burning incident at Warwick Park

Police: 29-year-old man dies after burning incident at Warwick Park

2:07
Westchester County preps for President Joe Biden's visit

Westchester County preps for President Joe Biden's visit

0:23
Westchester DA: Ex-Mamaroneck library employee stole over $40,000 from library

Westchester DA: Ex-Mamaroneck library employee stole over $40,000 from library

0:42
Yonkers Spano releases proposed budget for 2025

Yonkers Spano releases proposed budget for 2025

1:54
State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

2:07
​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

1:52
Final negotiations on Carmel schools' budget linger late into the night

Final negotiations on Carmel schools' budget linger late into the night

0:36
Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

0:31
Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

0:40
Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

0:57
Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

0:28
Police officer's conduct under review following shoplifting incident at Newburgh Walmart

Police officer's conduct under review following shoplifting incident at Newburgh Walmart

0:31
Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:41
Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck

Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck

1:49
Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester

Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester